The UK’s trade deficit would be 11% bigger than it currently is without Scotland’s national drink, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said yesterday.
SWA said Britain’s economy would be £3.8billion worse off if there was no whisky to help balance the books.
The industry body also said whisky was the UK’s biggest net contributor in the trading of goods
Chief executive David Frost added: “These figures re-emphasise how significant the Scotch whisky industry is to the Scottish and wider UK economy, adding more than £5billion of value and supporting around 40,000 jobs.
“But it may surprise some people that Scotch whisky is now the number one contributor to the UK’s balance of trade in goods, and that the trade deficit would be 11% higher without whisky exports.”
Mr Frost’s £5billion figure – covering domestic sales and exports – includes nearly £3.3billion which SWA says is the direct contribution by whisky to the economy and a further £1.7billion of “indirect and induced impacts”.
According to SWA, which has called for a 2% whisky duty cut in next month’s Budget, the industry directly employs 10,800 workers and generates nearly £530million in salaries for its employees.
Mr Frost said: “Given the scale and impact of the Scotch whisky industry, we believe the (UK) Government should re-double its efforts to support distillers.”
Nine new distilleries have opened in Scotland during the past two years and up to 40 more are planned across the country.
Meanwhile, Scotch whisky has just gained “geographical indication” (GI) status in Mozambique.
It means any whisky bearing the name “Scotch” on sale in the African country must be produced in Scotland.
The legal breakthrough, helping to crack down on fakes, comes on the back of a visit to Mozambique by Scottish Secretary David Mundell this week.
Mr Mundell said: “This new protection will help Scottish distillers maximise the value of this important new market.”